Antispreading device



Feb. 5 19240,

P. M. CULLEN H ANTISPREADING DEVICE Filed Nov. '17. 1920 R 5 a a u o m Wu o 9 a a 6/ /M 4 M \3 5 0 H 7/ d1 6 G H m 6 A E w a 5 I D. U 7 e m F.

Patented Feb. 5, 1924.

PETER M. CULLEN, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

ANTISPREADING DEVICE.

Application filed November 17, 1920. Serial No. 424,584.

T 0 all whom iii? may concern:

Be it known that I, PETER M. CULLEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pittsbur h, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Anti-Spreading Devices, of which improvement the following is a specification.

My invention has for its objects to provide a simple, practical and inexpensive device to be applied at the meeting ends of track rails, and at other suitable intervals along the tracks, to prevent the rails from spreading apart and thereby maintain the proper age, the device being particularly applicable to track curves.

With the above objects in view, the invention consists in the novel combination and arrangement of parts as will hereinafter appear and be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, I have illustrated my anti'spreading device applied to a railroad track, in which Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of a track showing the application of my invention thereto.

Fig. 2 is a plan of a section of track on a reduced scale, also showing the application of my invention thereto.

Fig. 3 is a plan of the device showing its application to the tie.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of a portion of the device.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of one of the connecting plates of bars.

Fig. 6 a plan view of the said plate or bar.

Fig. 7 is a modified form of a device.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 6, inclusive, of said drawings, the numeral 1 designates the ties and 2 the rails of the track, which may be of any approved form.

At suitable intervals along the track between the rails and ties, are placed my improved anti-spreading device which comprises a metal member or body in the form of a strip of metal 3 having adjacent each end a broad rail base portion 3 upon which the rail seats, there being suitable openings 4 therein by which the same is fixed to the tie by the usual spikes 4'. The extreme ends of the body are each provided with a vertically extended integral brace or bracket 5 formed thereon, said bracket having its inner face of a form corresponding to and neatly fitting over the rail base and against the Web and under side of the ball portion of the outer side of the rail. The body has also an opening 4; to receive spike 6 by which the device is further secured to the tie. Each of the brackets 5 is provided with a fish plate or connecting bar 7, said plate or bar having a pair of lugs 8 thereon, between which the bracket 5 engages and is secured thereto by a bolt 8 passing through openings 9 in the connecting bar and opening 9' in the bracket, there being a transverse groove 10 in the rail face of the bracket to receive the portion of the bar 9 intermediate the lugs.

In Fig. 7 the connecting bar 7 is formed integral with the bracket 5 of the metal body 3 giving the same results as the preferred form.

The rail ends are secured to the plates or bars 7 of the bracket by bolt 12 passed through openings 13 therein and through registering openings in the rails and innerfish plate 14, in the usual manner.

From the description given it will be so readily apparent that the device will be a material reinforcement to the track rails, prc venting lateral displacement of spreading of the rails when applied, be it at the meet ing ends of the rails or at other points there 35 along.

Having described my invention, what I claim is 1. An antispreading device, comprising a one piece member adapted to be secured to a rail tie and having integral end brackets adapted to fit the outer sides of the rails, each of said brackets having a transverselydisposed plate secured across the face thereof and adapted to engage the web portion of said rail, a plate adapted to engage along the inner face of said rail web, and holes for passing bolts through said plates and rail web, said brackets each having a slot in the face thereof to receive the plates and said plates provided with lugs, and a bolt passing through said bracket and plate lugs.

2. In a rail connecting device the combination of a member adapted to be secured to a rail tie, a bracket on each end thereof to engage the outer surface of a rail, a fish plate for each bracket, and anchoring members carried by the fish plates to engage said brackets.

3. In a rail connecting device the combination with a one piece member provided with a rail engaging bracket at each end,

Ill

of a fish plate for each bracket, said plates having lugs thereon to engage the side faces of said brackets for anchoring relation, and means for securing said plates to the rails and brackets.

4. In a rail connecting device the combination With a base member adapted to be secured on a rail tie and having a rail engaging bracket at each end thereof, of fish plates for each bracket, said brackets being grooved to receive said plates, lateral lugs on said plates to engage the sides of said brackets, and means to secure said plates to said brackets through the lugs.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my named in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

PETER M. CULLEN.

In the presence of- CLARENCE A. WILLIAMS, ALEX S. MAB N. 

